Weather shield for track scales



May 27, 1930- c. E. FULLER WEATHER SHIELD FOR TRACK SCALES Filed June 25, 1928 2 SheeiS-sheei 2 INVENTOR Clyde EFuZZer' ATTORNEY Patented May 27, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLYDE E. FULLER, OF ST. JOHNSBURY, VERMONT, ASSGNOR TO E. AND T. FAIRBANKS AND COMPANY, OF ST. JOHNSBURY, VERMONT, A CORPORATION OF VERMONT WEATHER SHIELD FOR TRACK SCALES Application filed June 25, 1928.

This invention relates to railway track scales and more particularly to an improved means for covering the scale pits in which the scale mechanism is located to prevent the entrance of water, ashes and other foreign mattei' into the pit by way of slots in the pit cover through which the rail supports pro ject.

In devices olf the class referred to, as heretofore commonly constructed, the supporting means lor the weather-shields are attached directly to the live rail supports, or stands. This necessitates stronger rail stands and the drilling of additional openings therein. It o is accordingly an important object oit this invention to provide an improved support tor a weather shield which is adjustable along the entire length of the live rai1 the construction being such that the support may be clamped in any position to the base flanges of the rail Without the necessity of drilling openings therein.

Another obj ect of this invention is the provision ot a weather-shield construction which provides maximum accessibility to the rail supporting means whereby easy inspection thereof is permitted, the construction and arrangement being such that more of the rail A supporting structure is exposed than is. possible in the present type of weather-shields.

Other objects of this invention together with certain details of construction and combinations ot parts, will be more particularly described in the specification and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings wherein is illustrated the preilerred embodiment et this in vention g Figure l is a plan view of a portion ot the covering, or deck, ol a scale pit, showing several sections ot the w ether-shield in position;

Figure Q is a vertical cross-sectional view 5 of the decl, showing the arrangement or the scale supports;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical tional View through a live rail and the deck, showing the weather-shield and its supports in position; and

Serial No. 288,089.

Figure 4r is a crosssectional view taken on line Ll 4 in Figure 3.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

le'tcrring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a scale pit in which the scale mechanism (not shown) is located. The pit is provided with a cover, or deck, 11 of any suitable construction which, in this preferred embodiment, comprises a flooring base 12 laid upon transverse beams 13, the ends or' which rest upon shelves formed in side walls 14 of the scale pit. The flooring is waterprooted by covering it with any suitable surfacing material, such as roofing paper coated with tar.

The deck is provided with openings, or slots, 15 through which project the rail supports, or stands, 16 upon which are positioned the live rails 17. Mounted on the deck adj acent to the live rails 17 are the dead rails 18. The dead rails are also supported by the transverse beams 13. The l`ve rails are of tho usual construction, comprising a head 19, a web 20 and base flanges Q1, 21 and are secured to the rail stands by any suitable means, clamps 22 and bolts 23.

The openings 15 extend the full length of the deck and it is through these openings that water, ashes and other foreign matter will enter the pit and lodge upon the scale parts to the detriment of the operation and accuracy of the scale. To prevent this the present dirtand weather-shield 24; is provided. The shield is formed of sheet metal sections ot suitable length which may be joined or overlap each other in any convenient manner. To the underside ot each section of the shield is suitably attached a plurality of bracket members 25 of angle iron construction having a base portion 26 and ily depending portion, or flange, 27 in the lower edge of which is formed a groove i28 of inverted V-shape. to overhang the adjacent edge of opening 15 and is provided along its outer edge with a depending skirt portion 29 which extends 'over and beyond an upstanding flan e 30 of an angle plate 31 which is suitably astened The shield is of a width sullcient 9 in tu to the deck l1 along the full length of the slot at the edge thereof. The flange SO and the depending` skirt 29 cooperate to prevent any matter from entering the scale pit and spaced from each other for the purpose of providing adequate ventilation in orc er to prevent undue condensation of moisture from collecting on the scale mechanism.

A mounting for the shield. is provided in the form of a bracket me aber 82. The brac-rtcts are 'lined to the base flanges of the live rail in pairs, one on each side of the rail. The bracket consists of a single casting having an apertured base7 or attaching portion, from the center of which projects at 'a right angie thereto an angular shield supporting member A slot is formed in the supporting member 34, said slot being adapted to litsnugly over the base flange of the live rail. rllhe free end is bifurcated to form a pair of ears 36, 36 having a web portion 37 between said ears. The Web portion is edged and upon this edge the shield is fulcrumed, the shield being mounted thereon at an inclination to facilitate the shedding of water therefrom, as will be readily understood.

As has been stated above, the brackets 32 are clamped to the live rail in pairs, one on each side thereof, bolts 38 and lock-nuts 39 retaining the brackets in position. A spacing member 38 is threaded on bolt 38 between the attaching portions 33 of the bracket members. It Will be understood that the construction outlined above provides a shield supportingand fulcruming means Which may be clamped in any position along the length of the live rail Without the necessity of drilling any openings therein or in any manner alteringthe construction thereof. i

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently Widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended 'that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrativeand not inY a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as nevrand desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. yIn a device of the character described, in combination, a scale deck having an opening therein, a plurality of rail stands projecting through said opening, a rail mounted on said stands, brackets mounted on said rail independently of said stands and a shield fulcrumed on said brackets.

2.' In a device of the character described, in combination, a deck having an opening therein, a plurality of rail stands projecting through said opening, a rail mounted on said stands, brackets mounted for adjustment along said rail and a shield fulerumed on said brackets.

3. In a device of the character described, in combination, a deck having an opening therein, a plurality of rail stands projecting through said opening, a rail mounted on said stands, brackets adjustablyl mounted on said rail independently of said rail stands and a shield fulcrumed on said brackets.

4. In a device of the character described, in. combination, a deck having an opening therein, a plurality of rail stands projecting through said opening, a rail mounted on said stands, a pair of brackets clamped on said rail, one on each side thereof and adapted to be adjustable along said rail and shield fulcrumed on said brackets.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

CLYDE E. FULLER. 

